Adjustable cervical collar

ABSTRACT

An adjustable cervical collar for encircling the neck of a wearer and characterized by the ability to be readily adjusted in height by the wearer while the collar is positioned about the neck. The collar includes a pair of elongate, semi-rigid, flexible bands held in overlapping relationship, and means for permitting the wearer to adjust the height thereof including a pair of apertures in the outer band, and a pair of elongate flexible fasteners carried by the inner band, with each fastener extending outwardly through one of the apertures. The apertures and fasteners are relatively positioned with respect to each other such that a pull exerted on the fastener results in the overlap of the bands being reduced to thereby increase the height of the collar. A pair of cooperating securing members are carried by the outer face of the outer band for securing each of the fasteners thereto in a predetermined position.

v United States Patent [191 Gaylord, Jr.

[ NOV. 4, 1975 ADJUSTABLE CERVICAL COLLAR John F. Gaylord, Jr.,Matthews, NC.

[73] Assignee: Medical Specialties, Inc., Charlotte,

[75] Inventor:

[22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 523,890

Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerJ. Yasko Attorney,Agent, or FirmParr0tt, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson 57 ABSTRACT Anadjustable cervical collar for encircling the neck of a wearer andcharacterized by the ability to be readily adjusted in height by thewearer while the collar is positioned about the neck. The collarincludes a pair of elongate, semi-rigid, flexible bands held inoverlapping relationship, and means for permitting the wearer to adjustthe height thereof including a pair of apertures in the outer band, anda pair of elongate flexible fasteners carried by the inner band, witheach fastener extending outwardly through one of the apertures. Theapertures and fasteners are relatively positioned with respect to eachother such that a pull exerted on the fastener results in the overlap ofthe bands being reduced to thereby increase the height of the collar. Apair of cooperating securing members are carried by the outer face ofthe outer band for securing each of the fasteners thereto in apredetermined position.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US, Patent .Nov. 4, 1975 1 ADJUSTABLECERVICAL COLLAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to anadjustable cervical collar for encircling the neck and immobilizing thewearers head while supporting the neck and head. The cervical collar ischaracterized by having means for allowing the wearer to adjust theheight of the collar while the collar encircles the neck of the wearer.

The use of cervical collars is widely prescribed by physicians intreating trauma of the muscles and ligaments of the neck, and of thecervical and upper thoracic vertabrae and associated spinal nerves. Thecollar, by shifting support of the head from the neck and vertabrae tothe lower chin and upper sternum, allows the affected body parts tomaintain a substantially neutral and relaxed position and thus healfaster and more completely.

It is often necessary to vary the height of cervical collars repeatedlyduring a course of treatment on a single patient, in order, for example,to increase or decrease the degree of permissible head and neckmovement. To eliminate the necessity of repeatedly exchanging one collarfor another having a different height, several different designs forcervical collars having means for adjusting the height thereof have beenproposed. However, several persistent disadvantages exist in knownadjustable cervical collars of this type.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,894, issued Apr. 3, 1962, discloses acervical collar formed of upper and lower overlapping bands. The bandsare slidable relative to each other by means of four separate, pivotallymounted sliding metal clamps which are each individually held in adesired position by tightening a screw. A major disadvantage of thisapproach is the necessity of using a screwdriver to individually tighteneach of four separate screws. This procedure renders it difficult forthe wearer alone to adjust the height since it is difficult to maintainthe proper separation while tightening the screws. Thus normally thecollar must be put on and then taken off several times to insure thecorrect adjustment of each of the four clamps. Other disadvantages arethat the cervical collar described above is structurally complicated andtherefore relatively expensive, and it is quite heavy due to the largenumber of metal parts on the collar.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,256, issued June 2, I964, discloses a cervicalcollar formed of upper and lower overlapping bands adjustable by meansof cooperating Velcro elements secured to the outside of the lower bandand the inside of the upper, overlapping band. Thus the lower band istrapped beneath the upper band when the collar is in place around theneck, and the collar must be removed in order to peel the lower bandaway from engagement with the upper band and make the necessaryadjustment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is the object of this invention toprovide an adjustable cervical collar with means for allowing the wearerof the cervical collar to adjust the height thereof while the collarencircles the neck of the wearer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cervicalcollar which is adapted to permit the wearer to selectively increase ordecrease the effective height of the collar while the same is positionedabout the wearers neck.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acervical collar which is simple in construction, and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the pres ent invention areachieved in the embodiment illustrated herein by the provision ofacervical collar which comprises a pair of substantially parallel,elongate, semi-rigid, flexible bands which are held in overlappingrelationship, and means for releasably securing the collar in encirclingrelation about the wearers neck. Means are provided for permitting thewearer to adjust the height of the collar comprising an edge surfacepositioned on the inner band, and an elongate flexible fastener carriedby the outer band. The fastener has one end secured to the inner band,and it extends vertically and is looped about the edge surface such thatthe other end of the fastener overlies the outer face of the outer band.The edge surface thereby serves as a bearing surface whereby a pullexerted upon the fastener results in the overlap of the bands beingreduced to thereby increase the height of the collar. A securing memberis carried by the outer face of the outer band for releasably securingthe fastener thereto in a predetermined position to thereby maintain thedesired height of the collar.

In the illustrated embodiment, the elongate fastener has Velcro elementssecured to one side thereof, and the securing member comprises a patchof Velcro ele ments releasably cooperating with the Velcro elements onthe elongate fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects of this inventionhave been set forth above, other objects and advantages will appear asthe description of the invention proceeds, when taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the outwardly facing, front side of acervical collar according to this invention with the fastenerelementsdisengaged;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the collar in FIG. 1, showingthe manner in which the collar bands are slidably connected;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cervical collar according tothis invention in place around the neck of the wearer and showing themanner in which the height of the collar is increased;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cervical collar according tothis invention in place around the neck of the wearer and showin'gtheincreased height of the collar obtained by manipulating the collar inthe manner shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectioned perspective view of the collar takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and showing the means foradjusting the collar in its secured position, and with the detachedposition.

of the elongate fastener shown in dotted lines; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectioned perspective view of the collar takensubstantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and through the meansslidably interconnecting the bands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,an adjustable cervical ing edges 11a, llb, respectively, and alowerelongate band 12 overlapping the upper band 11 substantiallyparallel therewith and having upper and lower longitudinally extendingedges 12a, 12b, respectively. The upper band 11 and lower band 12 areeach formed of a thin, lightweight, semi-rigid plastic material, such aspolyethylene, and are substantially sinusoidal in shape to conform tothe configuration of the chin, neck, shoulders and upper chest of thewearer. It will be understood that, while the preferred embodiment ofthis invention comprehends the lower elongate band 12 overlapping theupper band 11, the objects of the invention can be likewise accomplishedwith a structure wherein the upper band 11 overlaps the lower band 12.

The upper and lower bands 11, 12, respectively, are slidablyinterconnected for vertical movement relative to each other by meanscomprising three spaced-apart, transverse elongate slots 11c, 11d, llethrough the medial and opposing end portions, of upper band 11, incommunicating alignment with three spaced-apart, transverse, elongateslots 12c, 12d, l2e through medial and opposing end portions of theoverlapping, lower band 12. The interconnecting means further includesthree studs having an enlarged head on one end thereof, collectivelyreferred to by reference numeral 13, each of the studs 13 being extendedthrough one of the communicatively aligned pairs of slots 11c, 12c; lld,12d; and lle, l2e, respectively. Two washers 14 and 15 are carried inspaced-apart relation by each of the studs 13 with the upper band 11 andlower band 12 I interposed therebetween. The end of the stud 13remote'from the enlarged end is then crimped or otherwise flattened tomaintain the assembled relationship.

In order to releasably secure the cervical collar 10 in encirclingrelation around the neck of the wearer, means are provided which includean elongate, integrally formed tongue 18 on one end of the lower band12. A patch of conventional fibrous Velcro fastener material 19, formedof a loose non-woven felt-like substance, is secured, as for example bystitching, to the tongue 18. Secured to the opposing end of the lowerband 12 is a patch of conventional hook-type Velcro material 20,comprising numerous rows of small plastic hooks, which cooperates withthe fibrous material 19 on the tongue 18 to releasably secure the collararound the neck of the wearer in the desired position, as is shown inFIG. 4.The cooperating Velcro patches 19, 20, respectively, cover asubstantial area on opposing ends of the lower band 12, thus permittingthe tightness of the collar around the neck to be varied as desired.

To enable the collar 10 to conform more closely to the anatomy of thewearer, and to provide additional comfort, elongate cushion pads 22 and23 are stitched to the upper edge of the upper band 1] and lower edge oflower band 12, respectively. The cushion pads 22 and 23 comprise atubular core'of dense foam rubber, enclosed in an outer covering ofsoft, pliable covering material such as vinyl as is shown in FIGS. 5 and6. A plurality of perforations 24 are provided in theu'pper band 11 andlower band 12 topermit the flow of ventilating air through the collar,thus making the collar more comfortable for the wearer.

Means for allowing the height of the collar to be adjusted by the wearerwhile encircling the wearers neck by varying the amount of overlap ofthe lower band 12 relative to the upper band 11 are provided andcomprise a pair of elongate flexible fasteners 28 and 29. In theillustrated embodiment, each fastener comprises a strip of relativelynarrow fabric, and has a conventional, fibrous Velcro material, asdescribed above, secured to one side thereofFastener 28 is secured atone end thereof to the upper band 11 intermediate transverse slots 11cand 11d therein, and extends vertically therefrom in the manner morefully described below. Fastener 29 is secured at one end thereof to theupper band 11 intermediate transverse slots 11d and 11e, and likewiseextends vertically therefrom as described below.

Extending through the lower band 12 in transverse alignment with thefasteners 28, 29 are longitudinally extending apertures, in the form ofslots 34 and 35, respectively. Each of the slots 34 and 35 receivetherethrough one of the elongate fasteners 28, 29, respectively, as isshown in FIG. 1, and define lower edge surfaces 34a, 35a for thepurposes described below. As will be observed in FIG. 2, slots 34, 35are positioned adjacent the 'upper edge 12a of the lower band 12,whereas the fasteners 28, 29 are secured to the upper band 11 adjacentthe lower edge 11b thereof. Secured to the lower band 12 directlybeneath the slots 34, 35 are hook-like Velcro securing patches 38 and39, respectively, as described above, for securing the elongatefasteners 28, 29 in a desired position.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, the fasteners 28, 29 extend upwardly from thepoint of attachment to the band 11, and through the associated slots 34,35 such that the remote free end of each fastener overlies the outerface of the band 12. Thus in order to increase the height of the collar,the wearer grasps the fastener 28 between the thumb and forefinger ofone hand, and the fastener 29 between the thumb and forefinger of theother hand, and pulls the same outwardly through the slots 34, 35. Thusthe surfaces 34a and35a serve 'as a bearing surface whereby the outwardpull results in the overlap of the bands being reduced to therebyincrease the height of the collar. When the fasteners 28, 29 have beenpulled outward sufficiently to increase the height of the collar 10 toits desired level, the fasteners 28, 29, having the fibrous Velcromaterial thereon, are pulled downward and pressed firmly into engagementwith the hook-like Velcro patches 38, 39, respectively. This engagement'maintains the collar at its desired height against downward pressureagainst the upper band 11 by the chin.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the slot 34 and associated fastener 28 arelongitudinally spaced a predetermined distance from the medial portionof the collar represented by-the line 66, and the other slot 35 andassociated fastener 29 are longitudinally spaced a correspondingdistance in the opposite direction from the medial portion. Thisarrangement facilitates the gripping of the fasteners by the wearer asdescribed above.

Todecrease the height of the collar, the elongate faspush downwardlyupon the upper edge of the upper band-ll,,thus lowering the upper band11 relative to the lowerband l2, or the bands 11 and 12 may be movedtogether in any manner by the hands of the wearer or otherwise toincrease the extent of overlap therebetween.

By using the chin to adjust the height of the collar 10, the properadjustment of the collar may be determined directly by observing theeffect of lowering or raising the height thereof upon the position ofthe head and neck, rather than by making continuous, incrementaladjustments while the collar is removed from encircling relation aroundthe neck and then replacing the collar around the neck to determine theeffect of the adjustment on the position of the head and neck.

Thus, it may be seen that an adjustable cervical collar is describedabove for encircling the neck and immobilizing the wearers head whilesupporting the neck and head, which is characterized by the ability tobe readily adjusted in height by the wearer while the collar encirclesthe neck of the wearer.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of this invention, and al though specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.

That which is claimed is: 1. An adjustable cervical collar forencircling the neck of a wearer and substantially immobilizing thewearers head while supporting the head and neck, and characterized bythe ability to be readily adjusted in height by the wearer while thecollar is positioned about the neck, said cervical collar comprising:

a pair of substantially parallel, elongate, semi-rigid, flexible bandsheld in overlapping relationship with one of said bands overlapping theother of said bands when placed in position about a wearers neck; meansfor releasably securing the cervical collar in encircling relation aboutthe wearers neck; means for readily permitting the wearerof the cervicalcollar to adjust the height thereof while the collar is positioned aboutthe neck, and comprising: a. an edge surface positioned on said oneband, b. an elongate flexible fastener having one end thereof secured tosaid other band and extending vertically from said other band and loopedabout said edge surface such that the other end of said fasteneroverlies the outer face of said one band, said edge surface serving as abearing surface whereby a pull exerted upon the fastener results in theoverlap of the bands being reduced to thereby increase the height of thecollar, and

c. means carried by the outer face of said one band adjacent said edgesurface for releasably securing said fastener thereto to permit thefastener to be maintained in a desired position.

2. An adjustable cervical collar for encircling the neck of a wearer andsubstantially immobilizing the wearer's head while supporting the headand neck, and characterized by the ability to be readily adjusted inheight by the wearer while the collar is positioned about the neck, saidcervical collar comprising:

a pair of substantially parallel, elongate, semi-rigid, flexible bands,one of said bands overlapping the other of said bands when placed inposition about a wearers neck;

means slidably interconnecting said bands for vertical movement of saidbands relative to each other;

means for releasably securing the cervical collar in encircling relationabout the wearers neck;

means for readily permitting the wearer of the cervical collar to adjustthe height thereof while the collar is positioned about the neck, andcomprising:

a. an edge surface positioned on said one band,

b. an elongate flexible fastener having one end thereof secured to saidother band and extending vertically from said other band and loopedabout said edge surface such that the other end of said fasteneroverlies the outer face of said one band, said edge surface serving as abearing surface whereby a pull exerted upon the fastener results in theoverlap of the bands being reduced to thereby increase the height of thecollar, and

c. means carried by the outer face of said one band adjacent said edgesurface for releasably securing said fastener thereto to permit thefastener to be maintained in a desired position.

3. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 2, wherein saidmeans slidably interconnecting said bands comprises a plurality ofspaced-apart transverse elongate slots in each of said bands, the slotsin one of said bands being in mated communicating alignment with theslots in the other of said bands, and a stud having enlarged opposingend portions extending through each of said mated communicating slotsfor intercon necting each of said bands while allowing relative verticalmovement therebetween.

4. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 2, wherein saidelongate flexible fastener includes a patch of loose, fibrous, felt-likematerial, and said means for releasably securing said fastener includesnumerous rows. of hook-like fastener elements, and wherein said fastenerelements are adapted to releasably engage said patch of material uponbeing pressed together.

5. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 2, wherein said oneband has a longitudinally extending aperture for receiving said elongatefastener therethrough, and wherein said edge surface comprises one ofthe longitudinal edges defining said aperture.

6. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 2, wherein saidmeans for releasably securing the cervical collar in encircling relationaround the wearers neck includes cooperating fastener units secured toopposing end portions of at least one of said pair of bands.

7. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 6', wherein saidcooperating fastener units includes a longitudinally extending tongueintegrally formed on one end of at least one of said pair of bands andhaving numerous rows of hook-like fastener elements secured to one sidethereof, and a patch of loose, fibrous, felt-like material secured tothe opposing end of at least one of said pairs of bands and releasablycooperating with the hook-like fastener elements on said tongue.

8. An adjustable cervical collar for encircling the neck of a wearer andsubstantially immobilizing the wearers head while supporting the headand neck and characterized by the ability to be readily adjusted inheight by the wearer while the collar is positioned means for slidablyinterconnecting said bands for vertical movement of said bands relativeto each other;

means for securing the cervical collar in encircling relation about thewearers neck;

means for readily permitting the wearer of the cervical collar to adjustthe height thereof while the collar is positioned about the neck, andcomprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally spaced apart apertures extending throughsaid one band and adjacent said upper side edge thereof;

b. a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, elongate flexible fastenerssecured to said other band adjacent said lower side edge thereof, eachof said fasteners being substantially aligned with one of said aperturesand extending upwardly and through the aligned aperture such that theother end of each fastener overlies the outer face of said one band,said apertures serving as a bearing surface whereby a pull exerted onthe fasteners results in the overlap of the bands being reduced tothereby increase the height of the collar; and means carried by theouter face of said one band for releasably securing each of saidfasteners thereto to permit the fasteners to be maintained in a desiredposition.

9. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 8,

wherein each of said pair of bands has a plurality of spaced-apartperforations therein for allowing a ventilating flow of air through saidpair of bands.

10. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 8, including anelongate strip of soft cushioning material secured to the lowerlongitudinally extending side edge of said one band and an elongatestrip of soft cushioning material secured to the upper longitudinallyextending side edge of said other band for permitting the cervicalcollar to conform more closely to the anatomy of the wearers neck, lowerchin, and shoulders,

and making the cervical collar more comfortable while encircling thewearers neck.

11. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 8, wherein saidpair of bands are longitudinally sinusoidal in shape for correspondingto the configuration of the head, neck and upper chest of the wearerwhen in encircling relation around the neck of the wearer.

' 12. An adjustable cervical collar according to claim 8, wherein one ofsaid apertures and associated fastener are longitudinally spaced apredetermined distance from the medial portion of the collar, and theother of said apertures and associated fastener arelongitudinally'spaced a corresponding distance in the opposite directionfrom the medial portion of the collar. =l

1. An adjustable cervical collar for encircling the neck of a wearer andsubstantially immobilizing the wearer''s head while supporting the headand neck, and characterized by the ability to be readily adjusted inheight by the wearer while the collar is positioned about the neck, saidcervical collar comprising: a pair of substantially parallel, elongate,semi-rigid, flexible bands held in overlapping relationship with one ofsaid bands overlapping the other of said bands when placed in positionabout a wearer''s neck; means for releasably securing the cervicalcollar in encircling relation about the wearer''s neck; means forreadily permitting the wearer of the cervical collar to adjust theheight thereof while the collar is positioned about the neck, andcomprising: a. an edge surface positioned on said one band, b. anelongate flexible fastener having one end thereof secured to said otherband and extending vertically from said other band and looped about saidedge surface such that the other end of said fastener overlies the outerface of said one band, said edge surface serving as a bearing surfacewhereby a pull exerted upon the fastener results in the overlap of thebands being reduced to thereby increase the height of the collar, and c.means carried by the outer face of said one band adjacent said edgesurface for releasably securing said fastener thereto to permit thefastener to be maintained in a desired position.
 2. An adjustablecervical collar for encircling the neck of a wearer and substantiallyimmobilizing the wearer''s head while supporting the head and neck, andcharacterized by the ability to be readily adjusted in height by thewearer while the collar is positioned about the neck, said cervicalcollar comprising: a pair of substantially parallel, elongate,semi-rigid, flexible bands, one of said bands overlapping the other ofsaid bands when placed in position about a wearer''s neck; meansslidably interconnecting said bands for vertical movement of said bandsrelative to each other; means for releasably securing the cervicalcollar in encircling relation about the wearer''s neck; means forreadily permitting the wearer of the cervical collar to adjust theheight thereof while the collar is positioned about the neck, andcomprising: a. an edge surface positioned on said one band, b. anelongate flexible fastener having one end thereof secured to said otherband and extending vertically from said other band and looped about saidedge surface such that the other end of said fastener overlies the outerface of said one band, said edge surface serving as a bearing surfacewhereby a pull exerted upon the fastener results in the overlap of thebands being reduced to thereby increase the height of the collar, and c.means carried by the outer face of said one band adjacent said edgesurface for releasably securing said fastener thereto to permit thefastener to be maintained in a desired position.
 3. An adjustablecervical collar according to claim 2, wherein said means slidablyinterconnecting said bands comprises a plurality of spaced-aparttransverse elongate slots in each of said bands, the slots in one ofsaid bands being in mated communicating alignment with the slots in theother of said bands, and a stud having enlarged opposing end portionsextending through each of said mated communicating slots forinterconnecting each of said bands while allowing relative verticalmovement therebetween.
 4. An adjustable cervical collar according toclaim 2, wherein said elongate flexible fastener includes a patch ofloose, fibrous, felt-like material, and said means for Releasablysecuring said fastener includes numerous rows of hook-like fastenerelements, and wherein said fastener elements are adapted to releasablyengage said patch of material upon being pressed together.
 5. Anadjustable cervical collar according to claim 2, wherein said one bandhas a longitudinally extending aperture for receiving said elongatefastener therethrough, and wherein said edge surface comprises one ofthe longitudinal edges defining said aperture.
 6. An adjustable cervicalcollar according to claim 2, wherein said means for releasably securingthe cervical collar in encircling relation around the wearer''s neckincludes cooperating fastener units secured to opposing end portions ofat least one of said pair of bands.
 7. An adjustable cervical collaraccording to claim 6, wherein said cooperating fastener units includes alongitudinally extending tongue integrally formed on one end of at leastone of said pair of bands and having numerous rows of hook-like fastenerelements secured to one side thereof, and a patch of loose, fibrous,felt-like material secured to the opposing end of at least one of saidpairs of bands and releasably cooperating with the hook-like fastenerelements on said tongue.
 8. An adjustable cervical collar for encirclingthe neck of a wearer and substantially immobilizing the wearer''s headwhile supporting the head and neck and characterized by the ability tobe readily adjusted in height by the wearer while the collar ispositioned about the neck, said cervical collar comprising: a pair ofsubstantially parallel, elongate, semi-rigid flexible bands, one of saidbands overlapping the other of said bands when placed in position abouta wearer''s neck, and each of said bands defining upper and lowerlongitudinally extending side edges; means for slidably interconnectingsaid bands for vertical movement of said bands relative to each other;means for securing the cervical collar in encircling relation about thewearer''s neck; means for readily permitting the wearer of the cervicalcollar to adjust the height thereof while the collar is positioned aboutthe neck, and comprising: a. a pair of longitudinally spaced apartapertures extending through said one band and adjacent said upper sideedge thereof; b. a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, elongateflexible fasteners secured to said other band adjacent said lower sideedge thereof, each of said fasteners being substantially aligned withone of said apertures and extending upwardly and through the alignedaperture such that the other end of each fastener overlies the outerface of said one band, said apertures serving as a bearing surfacewhereby a pull exerted on the fasteners results in the overlap of thebands being reduced to thereby increase the height of the collar; and c.means carried by the outer face of said one band for releasably securingeach of said fasteners thereto to permit the fasteners to be maintainedin a desired position.
 9. An adjustable cervical collar according toclaim 8, wherein each of said pair of bands has a plurality ofspaced-apart perforations therein for allowing a ventilating flow of airthrough said pair of bands.
 10. An adjustable cervical collar accordingto claim 8, including an elongate strip of soft cushioning materialsecured to the lower longitudinally extending side edge of said one bandand an elongate strip of soft cushioning material secured to the upperlongitudinally extending side edge of said other band for permitting thecervical collar to conform more closely to the anatomy of the wearer''sneck, lower chin, and shoulders, and making the cervical collar morecomfortable while encircling the wearer''s neck.
 11. An adjustablecervical collar according to claim 8, wherein said pair of bands arelongitudinally sinusoidal in shape for corresponding to theconfiguration of the head, neck and upper chest of the wearer when inencircling relation around the neck of the wearer.
 12. An adjustablecervical collar according to claim 8, wherein one of said apertures andassociated fastener are longitudinally spaced a predetermined distancefrom the medial portion of the collar, and the other of said aperturesand associated fastener are longitudinally spaced a correspondingdistance in the opposite direction from the medial portion of thecollar.